MLS Academy League Announcement Coming Soon

[Anonymous]

^ oh then do what works.

One of my kids played on 2 teams one year when one league was “US Club” and the other “VYSA”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of eyes are opening during this period and some people, including parents, may realize (1) that they do not have to travel 2-3 hours for a one-off league match, (2) that there is sufficient competition simply within the DMV, (3) that they pass 5-10 other competitive opponents on their way to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, and other states beyond, and (4) that excessive travel may wear on the player and possibly affect their overall enjoyment of the sport.

On the boys side at the top level I don't think this is true. There are 4-5 teams which are head and shoulders above the others. However even then they often end up traveling 2-3 hours for games which aren't competitive either .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU v Bethesda
Armour v PA Classics
SYC v Alexandria

My god, this is *so* "Next". Can't imagine the kind of genius it took to put this together.

It's DCU vs Bethesda for U15 and U17. Achilles vs. Bethesda for U13 and U14.

Can't quite get this comment though. What would you like MLS Next to do? Invent new clubs overnight and have them play DCU and Bethesda in Takoma Park and Friendship Heights?

PP here. This comment is an eye-roll at the hype language that MLS Next uses. There's nothing happening here that's new or exciting.

It is new and exciting that two clubs have been given the opportunity to play in this top league, SYC and Alexandria instead of the same dug clubs from the old DA system that never changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is new and exciting that two clubs have been given the opportunity to play in this top league, SYC and Alexandria instead of the same dug clubs from the old DA system that never changed.

Those two are only playing U13 and U14 (in the new MLS league) this year. And those teams are playing a pretty restricted schedule to limit travel. So this is a good year for them to wade into a higher level of competition.

Do we know if this has helped them attract any new top players for this year? Over time, they are probably going to have to get better to compete in that league, but the league might help them get better players! (Will be tougher sell this year, when they aren't actually playing any MLS teams in the "MLS league".)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is new and exciting that two clubs have been given the opportunity to play in this top league, SYC and Alexandria instead of the same dug clubs from the old DA system that never changed.

Those two are only playing U13 and U14 (in the new MLS league) this year. And those teams are playing a pretty restricted schedule to limit travel. So this is a good year for them to wade into a higher level of competition.

Do we know if this has helped them attract any new top players for this year? Over time, they are probably going to have to get better to compete in that league, but the league might help them get better players! (Will be tougher sell this year, when they aren't actually playing any MLS teams in the "MLS league".)

MLS expects the truly talented kids to leave at U15 to go to DCU. The whole point of this league is to funnel homegrown talent to the MLS teams. It’s easier. (and cheaper) for the MLS teams to let local clubs filter out the strong players so they don’t have to go looking on their own. Will better players show up to these clubs, maybe, but those players will only be passing through. I wouldn’t get your hopes up about playing other MLS teams, the program is being designed to have MLS teams play MLS teams. The local clubs are just the bottom (Younger ages) of the pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is new and exciting that two clubs have been given the opportunity to play in this top league, SYC and Alexandria instead of the same dug clubs from the old DA system that never changed.

Those two are only playing U13 and U14 (in the new MLS league) this year. And those teams are playing a pretty restricted schedule to limit travel. So this is a good year for them to wade into a higher level of competition.

Do we know if this has helped them attract any new top players for this year? Over time, they are probably going to have to get better to compete in that league, but the league might help them get better players! (Will be tougher sell this year, when they aren't actually playing any MLS teams in the "MLS league".)

MLS expects the truly talented kids to leave at U15 to go to DCU. The whole point of this league is to funnel homegrown talent to the MLS teams. It’s easier. (and cheaper) for the MLS teams to let local clubs filter out the strong players so they don’t have to go looking on their own. Will better players show up to these clubs, maybe, but those players will only be passing through. I wouldn’t get your hopes up about playing other MLS teams, the program is being designed to have MLS teams play MLS teams. The local clubs are just the bottom (Younger ages) of the pyramid.

The Bethesda U17 schedule sent to the club (tentative, since because of Covid19, the schedules are firmed up week-by-week) has the team playing every single MLS team in the region (DCU, NYRB and Philly) in fall, in addition to Delco, PA classics, PDA, etc. even with restricted travel. I suspect Armour has a similar schedule too. And absolutely noone from this Bethesda team has switched to DCU since they were 13 y.o., except for one player for half a season. Your theory, therefore, is highly suspect.

[Anonymous]

Are Bethesda and Baltimore Armor the only DMV teams playing the MLS teams?
If so, what is the point for the other teams (Achilles, Alexandria...) to join this league?

[Anonymous]

If you want to know the end game, look at the conditions MLS clubs need to meet in order to get future payments for developing players. Note what is different about DCU in this situation and how they need to shift. Than, look at the cost structure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to know the end game, look at the conditions MLS clubs need to meet in order to get future payments for developing players. Note what is different about DCU in this situation and how they need to shift. Than, look at the cost structure.

Please elaborate and don’t leave us thick-minded hanging. Go on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is new and exciting that two clubs have been given the opportunity to play in this top league, SYC and Alexandria instead of the same dug clubs from the old DA system that never changed.

Those two are only playing U13 and U14 (in the new MLS league) this year. And those teams are playing a pretty restricted schedule to limit travel. So this is a good year for them to wade into a higher level of competition.

Do we know if this has helped them attract any new top players for this year? Over time, they are probably going to have to get better to compete in that league, but the league might help them get better players! (Will be tougher sell this year, when they aren't actually playing any MLS teams in the "MLS league".)

MLS expects the truly talented kids to leave at U15 to go to DCU. The whole point of this league is to funnel homegrown talent to the MLS teams. It’s easier. (and cheaper) for the MLS teams to let local clubs filter out the strong players so they don’t have to go looking on their own. Will better players show up to these clubs, maybe, but those players will only be passing through. I wouldn’t get your hopes up about playing other MLS teams, the program is being designed to have MLS teams play MLS teams. The local clubs are just the bottom (Younger ages) of the pyramid.

DCU has 18 kids at each age. I highly doubt a roster of 18 will accommodate the entire DMV. Especially given that the starting 11 will get the most play time given the substitution rules. Over time the other clubs will get better and better. Not everyone with a talented kid will want to go to DC or Loudoun for practice. DCU has name recognition but DC traffic means families will want to stay close to home while getting the same exposure to college scouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to know the end game, look at the conditions MLS clubs need to meet in order to get future payments for developing players. Note what is different about DCU in this situation and how they need to shift. Than, look at the cost structure.

Please elaborate and don’t leave us thick-minded hanging. Go on.

Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MLS expects the truly talented kids to leave at U15 to go to DCU. The whole point of this league is to funnel homegrown talent to the MLS teams.

DCU has 18 kids at each age. I highly doubt a roster of 18 will accommodate the entire DMV. Especially given that the starting 11 will get the most play time given the substitution rules. Over time the other clubs will get better and better. Not everyone with a talented kid will want to go to DC or Loudoun for practice. DCU has name recognition but DC traffic means families will want to stay close to home while getting the same exposure to college scouts.

Several of the top 2005s from Baltimore Armour just moved to DCU even though BA's U17 team is in the same MLS league. The top players will go to MLS academies in any case--even if their home club has U15/U17 teams. It's really the only viable route to becoming a pro (while keeping D1 options open).

My guess is that MLS hopes the SYC/Alexandria/Achilles of the world develop enough quality to field U15 and U17 teams in the MLS league in the future. That would mean less travel to play good teams, and more years to keep close tabs on the best players that aren't already at an MLS academy. By the same token, I'm sure they would welcome back Arlington or other former DA clubs in future years.

Also: DCU has way more than 18 kids at each age. The U17s (04s+05s) have 40 players on the squad! Super competitive for game roster and playing time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to know the end game, look at the conditions MLS clubs need to meet in order to get future payments for developing players. Note what is different about DCU in this situation and how they need to shift. Than, look at the cost structure.

Please elaborate and don’t leave us thick-minded hanging. Go on.

Lol.

Not the PP. But I think he is referring to the fact that MLS clubs will henceforth be collecting compensatory payments for players who sign elsewhere under FIFA rules, something they previously did not do. Depending on how DC United is categorized they could collect up to $40K per year the kids were members of DC United's Academy program. Presumably the PP intended to imply that DC United is thus maximizing the number of kids within their program in the hope that a handful of them sign elsewhere - which would potentially lead to DC United receiving hundreds of thousands of $ per signing.

Given that DC United also still charges the kids for training, this isn't a great look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to know the end game, look at the conditions MLS clubs need to meet in order to get future payments for developing players. Note what is different about DCU in this situation and how they need to shift. Than, look at the cost structure.

Please elaborate and don’t leave us thick-minded hanging. Go on.

Lol.

Not the PP. But I think he is referring to the fact that MLS clubs will henceforth be collecting compensatory payments for players who sign elsewhere under FIFA rules, something they previously did not do. Depending on how DC United is categorized they could collect up to $40K per year the kids were members of DC United's Academy program. Presumably the PP intended to imply that DC United is thus maximizing the number of kids within their program in the hope that a handful of them sign elsewhere - which would potentially lead to DC United receiving hundreds of thousands of $ per signing.

Given that DC United also still charges the kids for training, this isn't a great look.

This changed today, DC United is fully funding their academy now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to know the end game, look at the conditions MLS clubs need to meet in order to get future payments for developing players. Note what is different about DCU in this situation and how they need to shift. Than, look at the cost structure.

Please elaborate and don’t leave us thick-minded hanging. Go on.

Lol.

Not the PP. But I think he is referring to the fact that MLS clubs will henceforth be collecting compensatory payments for players who sign elsewhere under FIFA rules, something they previously did not do. Depending on how DC United is categorized they could collect up to $40K per year the kids were members of DC United's Academy program. Presumably the PP intended to imply that DC United is thus maximizing the number of kids within their program in the hope that a handful of them sign elsewhere - which would potentially lead to DC United receiving hundreds of thousands of $ per signing.

Given that DC United also still charges the kids for training, this isn't a great look.

This changed today, DC United is fully funding their academy now.

Correct. The rules say if it is pay to play or you are not entitled to any future payments - it needs to be free to the players. DCU had to move to this model if it wanted to reap the benefits from homegrown contracts. Hence, make the local pay to play clubs sort the players. I know DCUM has a lot of questionable comments ... isn’t it nice the DCU can shift the cost of player sorting to local clubs (parents) and not have to do the work to find talent. Parents will still foot the bill for MLS, only now DCU can sweep in and grab future potential. Enjoy the MLS next platform, the yield will be less than 1%. Just don’t believe you’re kid is talented because you play in this league. Soccer is expensive and everyone wants the parents to pay for that lottery chance.